Fabric-tufting machine.



No. 739,447.. PATENTBDSEPT. 22, 1903;V

-J. T. ROBERTS... FABRIC TUFTIN G MACHINE.

PPLIoATroK FILED 4JULY 7, 1902. No MODEL.

' UNITED STATES' Patented September 22, 1903. 4

VPATENT OFFICE.

FABRIC-TUFTING MACHINE.' A'

.EECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,447, dated September 22, 1903. Application filed July 7, 1902. Serial 110.114.671. (No model.)

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES THOMASv RoB- ER'rs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the county of Anderson and State of South Carolina, have invented a new and useful Fabric-Tufting Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fabric-tufting machines of that class shown in Letters Patent granted to me on september i2, 1899, No. 632,927.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved form of joint for connecting the two hand members or sections of the implement in such manner as to accurately guide them one on the other and prevent any lateral play such as might tend to alter the relative positions of the needle and loop-holder.

A further obj ect is to cheapen the construction and to provide a convenient means of adj usting the stroke ofthe needle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of adjustable loopholder and its operating-spring.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of 4parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointedA out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a fabric-tufting implement constructed in accordance with my invention( Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating thetwo members or sections of the device detached. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the implement on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the loop-holding spring detached.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The device comprises two opposite members 5 and 6, the former carrying a needle 7 and the latteraloop-holding device 8. Each of the handpieces is of such shape as to be conveniently grasped by the operator, suitable inger-openings 9 being arranged in each member. 4

To the inner surface of the needle member 5 is secured a rib or tenon 10, having under cut shouldersll, as indicated more clearlyin Figs. 2 and 3. The widenedinner portion of the rib is of comparatively short length, the rib being extended in the form of a narrowl and provided with a widened shank in which` are formed two openings for the passage of securing bolts 14, which extend through openings 15 in the handpiece 5 andare provided with securing nuts 16 for retaining them in proper position. In the handpiece are formeda number of openings 15, through which the bolts may be adjusted in order to allow the needle-pointto extend to a greater or less distance beyond the end of the handpiece.' The inner face of the handpiece 5 is further provided with a pair of parallel grooves 17, extending from the forward end of the rib 10 to the front end of the handpiece and arranged one on each side of the needle-receiving groove 12.

The inner face of the loop-holding carrier 6 is substantially dat, and to said face issev cured a strip 1S, preferably formed of wood of somewhat harder or better wearing quality than the cheapermaterial of which the body-y portion of the handpieces may be formed, although, if necessary, this strip may be of the same material as the handpiece or may be formed integral therewith. From a point near the front end of the handpiece the strip 18 is divided into two ribs 19 by a centrallydisposed longitudinal slot 20, extending to the rear end of the strip, the walls of the slots being undercut, as indicated at 22, to receive the-widened portion of the rib or tenon 10, while the upper portion of the slot is of a width just sufficient to receive the narrower or base portion of said rib.` 1n the face of the strip at a point in advance of the forward end ofthe slot are two lugs or pins 23, which,

when the two handpieces are assembled, iit i within the parallel grooves 17 and serve to positively prevent any independent lateral movethe wider portion of the rib into the under? cut portions 22 of the groove.

The forward end of the strip 18 is slotted, as indicated at 25, and the adjacent face of the handpiece is provided with an alining recess 26 for the reception of a leaf-spring 27, having an inherent tendency to move in the direction of the needle. The rear end of the spring is confined in place by bolt 2S, and its forward end is provided with a notch 29 to receive the curved or angular face of theloopholder S. The loop-holder is of the usual construction, being` provided with a longitudinally-grooved inner face for the reception of the needle, and at its rear end is provided with an eye 30, through which may pass a pivot-pin 3l, said pivot-pin being adapted to Iit in any one of a number of openings 32, formed in the strip 1S, in order that the distance which the end of the loop-holder projects beyond the end of the handpiece may be properly adjusted.' The spring is relatively7 stationary and possesses sufficient resiliency to properly act on the loop-holder without regard to the pivotal point of the latter.

In assembling the two hand members the forward end of the rib l0 may be readily inserted into the rear end of the undercut slot 20, and as the two members are drawn together the lugs or pins 23 will be guided into the parallel grooves 17 and the parts thus firmly held together. The forward limit of movement of the needle-carrier 5 is determined by the forward end of the rib l0 and the end wall of the groove 20, while the rearward limit of movement is determined by an adj ustable pin 323, adapted to any one of a number of openings 34, formed in the two walls of the slot 20, said pin being engaged by the rear end of the widened portion of the rib lO with said pin. Any suitable number of openings 34 are provided in order that the stroke may be adjusted for the formation of loops of any desired length.

The implement is operated in the wellknown manner for the formation of loops of yarn or other material on a fabric base.

IVhile the construction herein described,

and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is the preferred form of the device, it is obvious that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination in a tufting implement, of the two hand members having interengaging ribs and grooves, and one of said inembers being provided with a looper-receiving recess at one end and with openings extending through the side walls of the recess, a pin adjustable to any one of said openings, a looper pivoted on said pin, an auxiliary spring seated within the recess and having at its outer end a notch for the reception of the rear face of the looper to thereby assist in holding the looper from lateral movement, and a needle carried by the opposite member.

. 2. The combinationinatufting implement, of the two hand members, an adjustable needle carried by one member, an adjustable looper carried by the second member, one of said members having an elongated slot or groove provided with undercut walls, a rib extending from the face of the opposite member, said rib fitting within the groove and having a widened portion iitting Within the undercut walls of the groove, and means for preventing independent lateral play of said members at points adjacent to the needle and looper, said means comprising a pair of grooves formed in the face of one member and extending forwardly on opposite sides of the base portion of the needle, and pins carried by the opposite member and fitting with in said grooves, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES THOMAS ROBERTS.

Vitnesses:

F. E. WATKINS, J. F. OLARDY. 

